Dallas Stars rally in third to deny Anaheim Ducks comeback 5-3 -NHL Update
Anaheim showed a good effort after they caught up with three straight goals of their own in the second period to force a levelled final period competition, but the Ducks were not able to keep Dallas out of their net as the Stars rallied in the third to take the match, 5-3, on Monday night, December 19, 2011, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, United States.
The Stars have certainly showed some potential this season after being ousted of the playoffs last time for the second season straight. For Dallas, taking an early and dominating lead is something they have carried on with and has ultimately benefited them in the long run.
Brenden Morrow added the inaugurating goal of the night for his seventh of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season nearly midway through the opening period off an assist by Mike Ribeiro and Steve Ott.
Dallas failed to capitalise on the late power play opportunities in the opening round but as they carried over into the second period, Alex Goligoski and Mike Ribeiro potted a pair of goals less than 30 seconds apart to put the Stars ahead, 3-0, in the opening two minutes of the mid period.
Anaheim was determined to comeback and did as the Finnish Flash, Teemu Selanne, fired off his 11th of the season on their second power play chance of the night followed by Lubomir Visnovsky for his second on another added man advantage with Steve Ott on the benches for interference with a minor penalty.
Nick Bonino inaugurated his scoring in the season by firing off the equaliser with less than two minutes remaining in the second, forcing intense competition as both periods entered the third 3-3.
Michael Ryder made the tie-breaker nearly midway through the third period while Eric Nystrom also potted his 11th of the season with less than six minutes remaining to secure and take the match.
"I thought they kind of took it to us in the last 10 [minutes of the second period]," Dallas coach, Glen Gulutzan, said "But our message between the second and third was we can't do it with a strike of lightning. We have to make sure every line's going out there and working and then we've got to do it together. The guys did that for that last 20."
Dallas have the next against the Philadelphia Flyers at home on Wednesday while the Ducks will head out to their state rivals, the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
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